Thursday, January 9, 2014

Starting your New Year Off Right Health Tips

Happy New Year

Not everyone make's new year resolutions, but I'm trying to start off the new year on the right direction. I've been doing a lot of reading/research on trying to make myself healthier. After all I owe to not only myself but to my family. I want to be around to see my grandkids grow-up and see their kids too. We all get older and can't always do the things we once did. I consider myself an old school kind of guy.

From as early as I remember (around age 3) I have always been active or as my mom and dad said hyperactive. We lived at the end of a dead end road with nothing but woods and don't think I ever remember being inside except to eat of sleep and watch the Betty Feezor Show with mom.

Some of the old timers might remember or have heard of her. She was TV Homemaker who appeared on local TV channel 2 for close to a quarter of a century, over 5000 shows. The vast majority of her shows are lost because they were broadcast live and apparently WBTV did not make recordings.

Mamma loved to cook and she was still walking around 3 miles a day before she broke her hips. I would run and she would walk. She was in her late 70's then, so I think I inherited most my drive from the Couch side of the family. I was into about everything growing-up. Baseball, Football, Running, Karate, Motorcross Racing, Tennis etc. I can't even remember learning to drive a bicycle. Mom told me onetime that I was riding my brothers bicycle around 4 years old with no training wheels.

But kids and people have changed. Seems like everyones thumbs are getting more exercise, with all the Facebook, Twitter and Texting. We are getting inactive and it can leave to health problems as well as mental issues like depression etc. So here is a few tips that I have been reading up on and wanted to share the info with you. Hope you enjoy reading the tips. And if you like the read please LIKE & SHARE on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/raypublishing

May you and your family, friends have a blessed NEW YEAR! ~Scott @ Ray Publishing

Wellness/Prevention

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.

Experts in the United Kingdom (UK) estimate that if everyone over the age of 50 simply ate one apple each day, this act alone would prevent about 8,500 vascular-related deaths each year. Previous studies estimate that prescribing statins to all adults over 50 years old could prevent a similar amount of vascular-related deaths annually but the mass prescription of statins in the UK could also result in an extra 10,000 diagnoses of diabetes and an extra thousand cases of muscle disease. The study did not note any potential negative effects from mass apple consumption.

Vitamin D Decreases Pain and Depression in Women with Type 2 Diabetes.
A new study has revealed that vitamin D supplementation can reduce both pain and depression in type 2 diabetic women. The participants in the study took 50,000 IUs of vitamin D2 per week for six months. By the end of the study, researchers noted a significant decrease in depression and a reduction in pain for women who also suffered neuropathic and/or sensory pain.

Sing Your Way to Happiness by Joining a Choir.
A new online survey of 400 people who either sing in a choir, sing alone, or play on a sports team found that mental well-being is higher among those who sing in a choir. Furthermore, choir members in the survey regarded their choir as a more meaningful social group than how athletes viewed their sports team. Study author Dr. Nick Stewart adds, "These findings suggest that the experience of using your voice to make music may be enhanced when you feel part of a cohesive social group."Mental Attitude

Link Found Between Heart Disease and Dementia in Postmenopausal Women.

A German study that included 6,500 elderly women found that those with heart disease were nearly 30% more likely to suffer from cognitive decline. Of the women with heart disease, those who had a heart attack were twice as likely to experience cognitive decline as those who had not had a heart attack. According to lead author Dr. Bernhard Haring, "Women with heart disease -- in particular women who have had a heart attack, bypass surgery, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or carotid endarterectomy -- should be monitored by their doctors for potential cognitive decline… It is also very important to adequately manage heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes."

Good News Regarding Dementia.

Several recent studies show that the rate of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease is declining due to increased education and improvements in both health care (treatment of key cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol) and lifestyle (regular exercise).

Anxiety Linked to Stroke Risk!
Using 22 years worth of data on over 6,000 people, researchers have linked anxiety to stroke risk. According to the data, people with above average levels of anxiety were 33% more likely to suffer a stroke than their peers with the lowest levels of anxiety. People with high anxiety levels tend to be sedentary and smoke, both of which are risk factors for stroke. Stroke is the number four killer and the leading cause of disability in the United States.

Smartphone Usage Linked to Lower Grades and Higher Anxiety.
Based on data provided by over 500 college students, researchers at Kent State University in Ohio note that students who spend the most time using their smartphones tend to have lower grades and higher anxiety levels than their peers who spend the least time on their mobile devices.

Health Alerts

Don’t Mix Your Drinks!

A growing trend among young adults is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Research has shown that college students tend to drink more heavily and become more intoxicated on days they consume a combination of energy drinks and alcohol than on days when they only drink alcohol. While the United States no longer permits manufacturers to premix high-caffeine products with alcohol, mixed drinks such as vodka and Red Bulls are becoming more popular. The public health implications include physical risks to individuals from blacking out, alcohol poisoning, and even exposing the community to dangerous situations in which young adults may be "wide awake drunk" after a night of partying.

Sleep Deprivation's Effect on Aging Bodies is Similar to Diabetes.
A new study finds that sleep deprivation affects blood sugar homeostasis in elderly mice in a manner similar to type 2 diabetes. If this finding translates to humans, it provides another reason for aging adults to get adequate rest.

Risks for First-Time Mothers Start at Age 30.
New research suggests that pregnancy risk begins much earlier than once thought. According to the available data, first-time mothers between the ages of 30 and 34 have a higher risk of giving birth to a premature or stillborn baby than younger first-time mothers. Lead study author Dr. Ulla Waldenström adds, "For women individually, the risk is small, but for society at large, there will be a significant number of 'unnecessary' complications with so many women having children just after 30. It would therefore be advisable to inform both women and men, even at schools, of how important age is to childbirth."

Diet

Eating Tomatoes May Help Prevent Breast Cancer!

For postmenopausal women, their risk for developing breast cancer rises as their body mass index (BMI) increases. A 10-week study involving 70 postmenopausal women found that consuming tomatoes and tomato-based products containing at least 25 mg of lycopene each day increased levels of the hormone adiponectin by 9%. Adiponectin helps regulate blood sugar and fat levels, which in turn, could help women achieve and maintain a more healthy BMI score, thus decreasing their risk for breast cancer. According to study author Dr. Adana Llanos, "Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant benefits. Based on this data, we believe regular consumption of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables would promote breast cancer prevention in an at-risk population."

Eating Fiber Lowers Heart Risk!

After analyzing 22 previous studies, researchers conclude that a diet high in fiber lowers a person's risk for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease with significant risk reduction increases for every 7 grams of fiber consumer per day. Dr. Robert Baron, professor of Medicine at the University of California, adds, "[Eating more fiber] may turn out to be the most important nutrition recommendation of them all."

Compound in Grape Seed Extract Kills Cancer Cells.

Investigators suggest that a naturally occurring compound found in grape seed extract, called B2G2, can kill prostate cancer cells. In a lab setting, B2G2 was observed to induce cancer cell death, known as apoptosis. Study author Dr. Alpna Tyagi writes, "We've shown similar anti-cancer activity in the past with grape seed extract, but now we know B2G2 is its most biologically active ingredient, which can be synthesized in quantities that will allow us to study the detailed death mechanism in cancer cells."

Oral Spray May Aid in Weight Loss.

Peptide YY is a hormone released by the gut after eating that tells the body it's full. Previous studies have found that injecting the hormone into the bloodstream reproduced the fullness effect but led to unwanted side-effects, such as vomiting. Now, researchers at the University of Florida's College of Medicine claim that delivering peptide YY through an oral mouth spray just thirty minutes before a meal helps the body feel satiated without inducing vomit. This could potentially lead to a new tool for helping people eat smaller meals as part of a weight loss plan.

FDA to Phase Out Antibiotics in Livestock.
In an effort to combat growing antibiotic resistance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced it will take steps to phase out the non-medical use of antibiotics in animals used for food production.

ExerciseHigh-Tech Athletic Shoe Can Improve Performance and Prevent Injury.
Researchers have developed specialized running shoes that use sensors and microelectronics integrated into the sole to measure a runner's biomechanical data. The data can be transmitted to a smartphone to give the runner immediate feedback on training performance while also providing suggestions on improving his/her form and training routine. According to Dr. Andreas Heinig, a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems, "The app could recommend running more slowly, for example, or rolling off the foot differently, suggest seeking a different running surface or stopping if necessary."

Boost Your Energy Naturally.

Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to devote to daily life activities.

Exercise Video Games Can Help Diabetics.
According to a new study, type 2 diabetics who played exercise-focused video games showed greater control of their blood glucose levels compared with diabetics who received routine care. Those who played the video game (Wii Fit Plus, in this case) also lost more weight. Senior study author Dr. Stephan Martin adds, "Given the positive attitudes of the participants and the limited restrictions for gaming at home, exercise games may potentially be used in a home setting as a tool to reduce inactive behavior in people with Type 2 diabetes."

Exercise May Help Pregnant Women Quit Smoking.
A recent study conducted at Western University in Ontario, Canada finds that just 15-20 minutes of walking at a moderate pace is enough to curb tobacco cravings in pregnant smokers by as much as 30%. Participants reported that exercise also decreased restlessness, irritability, tension, and depression. Recent statistics show 19% of Canadian women ages 20-24 smoked while pregnant. According to study author Dr. Harry Prapavessis, "Smoking during pregnancy is common, and quitting at any point during pregnancy can yield benefits to both the fetus and the mother… Once you quit smoking, withdrawal symptoms typically follow and a strong desire to smoke returns. These factors both contribute to a high number of relapses. We believe regular exercise can help reduce the number of relapses."

Confront anxiety with confidence
Although most people are not phobic, almost everyone has to struggle against worry, which is a form of fear. Our age is the era of anxiety. Everyone experiences some anxiety, and it can be a useful emotion when it triggers us to act to avoid danger. But, if it impacts our life seriously, we must take action to overcome it. "Every anxiety sufferer must learn new ways of thinking and develop methods for changing their former thinking patterns".The Bible verifies that this kind of thinking is essential, telling us to "be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23).

How do we do this? One anxiety-reducing technique is to cleanse your mind at day's end. Evening is "a good time to do a 'mental wash' when you review anxieties that are cluttering your thinking and dump those that are not important".

The Bible confirms that this is sound advice in a passage that tells us what to do at day's end. "Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still" (Psalm 4:4).

Sometimes anxieties relate to meeting our basic needs. Jesus said, "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'" Jesus also recommended a cure for these worries: ". Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:31, 33, New American Standard Bible). The point is that, when our priorities conform to God's will, we can live in confidence that He will help us meet our other needs.

A relationship with God is fundamental to overcoming our fears. The Bible exhorts: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5), and, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (4:13). The only way we can develop the mind of Christ is to first repent of ignoring God's biblical instructions, then be baptized and receive God's Spirit (Acts 2:38). In doing so we can cleanse our minds and develop new mental habits. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

The healing power of humor
As simple as it sounds, the ability to laugh is an aid to mental health. Joy is akin to laughter, and it, too, is part of the fruit of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22). "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance" (Proverbs 15:13), and "a merry heart does good, like medicine" (17:22).

Humor triggers literal physiological and mental changes in your body. Laughter "touches us at a deep emotional and physical level ... By its very nature it changes our perception and invites us to look at things in a different light. It shows us that life can be silly, even crazy at times, but it still can be enjoyable". One doctor notes that "humor, smiles, and laughter are the very best stress-busters" (Herbert Benson, M.D., Timeless Healing, 1996, p. 277).

A relationship with God provides the deepest and most-abiding joy. "The Bible has much to say about the joy, the sheer happiness, of the redeemed ..." ( The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1982, "Humor in the Bible"). In one study of more than 500 men, "significant associations emerged between the participants' religious involvement and their health ... such as less depression" (Kenneth Cooper, M.D., It's Better to Believe, p. 5).

Physical activity such as gardening, walking and other regular exercise can also benefit your mental health.

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